Valour Day PHILIPPINES - A p r 0 9
Araw ng Kagitingan (English:"Day of Valour") is a national holiday in the Philippines which commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II. It falls annually on April 9, although in 2009 President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo moved it to April 6 in order to create a long weekend.
History
At dawn, 9 April 1942, against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., commanding Luzon Force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, surrendered more than 76,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Chinese Filipinos, and 11,796 Americans) starving and disease-ridden men. The majority of the prisoners of war were immediately robbed of their keepsakes and belongings and subsequently forced to endure a 90-mile (140 km) march in deep dust over vehicle-broken macadam roads and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O'Donnell. En route, thousands died from dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution. Those few who were lucky enough to travel on trucks to San Fernando would still have to endure more than 25 additional miles of marching. Prisoners were beaten randomly and often denied promised food and water. Those who fell behind were usually executed or left to die; the sides of the roads became littered with dead bodies and those moaning for assistance. On the Bataan Death March, approximately 54,000 of the 72,000 prisoners reached their destination. The death toll of the march is difficult to assess because thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards. All told, approximately 5,000-10,000 Filipino and 600-650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O'Donnell.
Memorial Day GEORGIA - A p r 0 9
The April 9 tragedy (also known as Tbilisi Massacre, Tbilisi tragedy) refers to the events in Tbilisi,Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, on April 9, 1989, when an anti-Soviet demonstration was dispersed by the Soviet Army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. April 9 is now remembered as the Day of National Unity (Georgian: ეროვნული ერთიანობის დღე), an annual public holiday.
the Georgian SSR in 1988. Several strikes and meetings were organized by anti-Soviet political organizations in Tbilisi. The conflict between the Sovietgovernment and Georgian nationalists deepened after the so-called Lykhny Assembly on March 18, 1989, when several thousand Abkhaz demanded secession from Georgia and restoration of the Union republic status of 1921–1931. In response, the anti-Soviet groups organized a series of unsanctioned meetings across the republic, claiming that the Soviet government was using Abkhaz separatism in order to oppose the pro-independence movement. The protests reached their peak on April 4, 1989, when tens of thousands of Georgians gathered before the House of Government on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The protesters, led by the Independence Committee (Merab Kostava, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Giorgi Chanturia, Irakli Bathiashvili, Irakli Tsereteli and others) organized a peaceful demonstration and hunger strikes, demanding the punishment of Abkhaz secessionists and restoration of Georgian independence. Local soviet authorities lost control over the situation in the capital and were unable to contain the protests. First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party Jumber Patiashvili asked USSR leadership to send troops to restore order and impose curfew.
The demonstrations
In the evening of April 8, 1989, Colonel General Igor Rodionov, Commander of the Transcaucasus Military District, ordered his troops to mobilize. Moments before the attack by the Soviet forces, the Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II addressed the demonstrators asking them to leave Rustaveli Avenue and the vicinity of the government building due to the danger which accumulated during the day after appearance of Soviet tanks near the avenue. The demonstrators refused to disband even after the Patriarch's plea. The local Georgian militsiya (police) units were disarmed just before the operation. On April 9, at 3:45 a.m., Soviet APCs and troops under General Igor Rodionov surrounded the demonstration area. Later, Rodionov claimed in his interview that groups of Georgian militants attacked unarmed soldiers with stones, metal chains and rods. The Soviet troops received an order from General Rodionov to disband and clear the avenue of demonstrators by any means necessary.
Clash:
The Soviet detachment, armed with military batons and spades (a favorite weapon of Soviet special forces ), advanced on demonstrators moving along the Rustaveli Avenue. During the advance, the soldiers started to attack demonstrators with spades, inflicting injuries both minor and serious to anyone who was struck. One of the victims of the attack was a 16-year-old girl who tried to get away from the advancing soldiers, but was chased down and beaten to death near the steps of the government building, receiving blows to the head and chest. She was dragged out of the area by her mother who was also attacked and wounded. This particularly violent attack was recorded on video from the balcony of a building located on the other side of the avenue. The video was used in the aftermath as evidence during Sobchak's Parliamentary commission on investigation of events of April 9, 1989. The stampede following the attack resulted in the death of 19 people, among them 17 women. Autopsies conducted on the victims concluded the direct cause of death of all those who died, with the exception of one case of serious skull and brain injury, was suffocation (asphyxia) caused by both the compression of the body and the inhalation of chemical substances. Official Soviet reports blamed the demonstrators for causing the clash, saying that the troops were attacked with sticks and knives. According to Tass, the soldiers followed orders not to use their weapons, but that extremists attacked them with pieces of metal, bricks and sticks. Tass described the demonstrators as stirring interethnic strife and calling for the overthrow of the Georgian government. President Gorbachev slammed "actions by irresponsible persons" for loss of life. He said that the disturbances sought to overthrow the Georgian government and stir ethnic tension in Georgia. Foreign ministry spokesman said that the clashes were sparked by "die-hard nationalists, extremists and political adventurists who are abusing democratization to the detriment of our new policy of openness and of our very society." CN and CS gas were used against the demonstrators; vomiting, respiratory problems and sudden paralyses of the nervous system were reported. The disarmed police officers attempted to evacuate the panicked group of demonstrators, however a video taken secretly by opposition journalists showed that soldiers did not allow doctors and emergency workers to help the injured people; in fact, even ambulances were attacked by the advancing soldiers Captured on film, the image of a young man beating a tank with a stick became a symbol of the Georgian anti-Soviet movement. On April 10, the Soviet government issued a statement blaming the demonstrators for causing unrest and danger for the safety of the public. The next day, the Georgian TV showed the bodies of the 19 women violently killed, demonstrating alleged brutality by the Soviet soldiers, as the faces of the deceased women were hard to identify due to the facial injuries and blows to the head. The Soviet government blamed the demonstrators for the death of the 20 people, claiming that they had trampled each other while panicking and retreating from the advancing Soviet soldiers. A Parliamentary commission on investigation of events of April 9, 1989 in Tbilisi was launched by Anatoly Sobchak, member of Congress of People's Deputies of Soviet Union. After full investigation and inquiries, the commission confirmed the government's claim that the deaths had resulted from trampling, but another contributing factor had been the chemical substances used against the demonstrators. It condemned the military, which had caused the deaths by trying to disperse demonstrators. The commission's report made it more difficult to use military power against demonstrations of civil unrest in the Soviet Union. Sobchak's report presented a detailed account of the violence which was used against the demonstrators and recommended the full prosecution of military personnel responsible for the April 9 event.
Aftermath
On April 10, in protest against the crackdown, Tbilisi and the rest of Georgia went out on strike and a 40-day period of mourning was declared. People brought massive collections of flowers to the place of the killings. A state of emergency was declared, but demonstrations continued. The government of the Georgian SSR resigned as a result of the event. Moscow claimed the demonstrators attacked first and the soldiers had to repel them. At the first Congress of People's Deputies (May–June 1989) Mikhail Gorbachev disclaimed all responsibility, shifting blame onto the army. The revelations in the liberal Soviet media, as well as the findings of the "pro-Perestroika" Deputy Anatoly Sobchak's commission of enquiry into the Tbilisi events, reported at the second Congress in December 1989, resulted in embarrassment for the Soviet hardliners and army leadership implicated in the event.
Legacy
The April 9 tragedy radicalised Georgian opposition to Soviet power. A few months later, a session of the Supreme Council of Georgian SSR, held on November 17–18, 1989, officially condemned the occupation and annexation of Democratic Republic of Georgia by Soviet Russia in 1921. On March 31, 1991, Georgians voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum. With a 90.5% turnout, approximately 99% voted in favor of independence. On April 9, the second anniversary of the tragedy, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia proclaimed Georgian sovereignty and independence from the Soviet Union. A memorial to the victims of the tragedy was opened at the location of the crackdown on Rustaveli Avenue on November 23, 2004.
Finnish Language Day FINLAND - A p r 0 9
Mikael Agricola (c. 1510 – 9 April 1557) was a clergyman who became the de facto founder of written Finnish and a prominent proponent of the Protestant Reformation in Sweden (including Finland). He is often called the "father of the Finnish written language". Agricola was consecrated as the bishop of Turku (Åbo) in 1554, without papal approval. As a result, he began a reform of the Finnish church (then a part of the Church of Sweden) along Lutheran lines. He translated the New Testament into Finnish and also produced the prayer book and hymns used in Finland's new, Lutheran Church. This work set the rules of orthography that are the basis of modern Finnish spelling. His thoroughgoing work is particularly remarkable in that he accomplished it in only three years. He died suddenly while returning from a trip during which he negotiated a treaty with the Russians.
Biography Early life:
Michael Olaui or Mikkel Olofsson (Finnish: Mikael Olavinpoika) was born in Uusimaa (Nyland) in the village of Torsby in Pernå, Finland, around the year 1510. He was named after the patron saint of Pernå's church. The exact date of his birth, like most details of his life, is unknown. His family was a quite wealthy peasant family according to the local bailiff's accounting. He had three sisters, but their names are not known. His teachers apparently recognized his aptitude for languages and his rector Bartholomeus sent him to Viborg(Viipuri) for Latin school and some priestly training, where he attended the school of Erasmus. It is not known whether his first language was Swedish or Finnish - the first alternative is supported by the fact that Pernå was mostly a Swedish-speaking district. However, he mastered both languages like a native speaker and was possibly a bilingual child.
Agricola as a student:
When he studied in Viborg (Viipuri) he assumed the surname Agricola ("farmer" gv. "agriculture"); surnames based on one's father’s status and occupation were common for first-generation scholars at the time. It was probably in Viipuri where he first came in touch with the Reformation and Humanism. The Viipuri castle was ruled by a German count, Johann, who had served the king of Sweden, Gustav Vasa. The count was a supporter of the Reformation, and they already held Lutheran services. In 1528 he followed his teacher to Turku (Åbo), the center of the Finnish side of the Swedish realm and the capital of the bishopric, where he became a scribe in bishop Martinus Skytte's office. While in Turku he met Martin Luther's first Finnish student Petrus Särkilahti, who eagerly spread the idea of the Reformation. Särkilahti died in 1529, and it was up to Agricola to continue his work. He was ordained for priesthood circa 1531. In 1536 the bishop of Turku sent him to study in Wittenberg in Germany. He concentrated on the lectures of Philipp Melanchthon, who was an expert in Greek, the original language of the New Testament. In Wittenberg he studied under Luther. He got recommendations to Gustav Vasa from both of the reformists. He sent two letters to Gustav, asking for a confirmation for a stipend. When the confirmation came, he bought books (for example, the complete works of Aristotle). In 1537 he started translating the New Testament into Finnish.
Agricola as a rector and an ordinarius:
Literary achievements Abckiria:
Yuri's Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate space exploration milestones. The event is named for the first and most important milestone, the launch of the first human into space, Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, on the Vostok 1 spaceship. In 2004, people celebrated Yuri's Night in 34 countries in over 75 individual events. Locations have included Los Angeles, Stockholm, Antarctica, the San Francisco Bay Area, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, and the International Space Station. The goal of Yuri's Night is to increase public interest in space exploration and to inspire a new generation of explorers. Driven by space-inspired artistic expression and culminating in a worldwide network of annual celebrations and educational events, Yuri's Night creates a global community of young people committed to shaping the future of space exploration while developing responsible leaders and innovators with a global perspective. These global events are a showcase for elements of culture that embrace space including music, dance, fashion, and art. Yuri's Night was created by Loretta Hidalgo, George T. Whitesides and Trish Garner. The first Yuri's Night was held on April 12, 2001, but its counterpart, known as Cosmonautics Day was established in the Soviet Union in 1962. The 2004 event in Los Angeles was attended by over 100 prominent space leaders including author Ray Bradbury, space tourist Dennis Tito, X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis, *NSYNC's Lance Bass and Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from the original Star Trek series). The event was followed by a large party with 2 dance floors and world-class DJs. The 2007 event in the San Francisco Bay Area was located at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA. The event features artistic installations, technology demonstrations, and DJ music continuing through dawn of the following day and takes place in an aircraft hangar not accessible to the public. Yuri's Night is a Space Generation Advisory Council event. April 2011 will mark the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's historic first flight.
Cambodian New Year CAMBIODIA- Apr 13
The Cambodian New Year or popularly known to the natives as Chol Chnam Thmey is celebrated for three days and usually falls around the 13th or 14th of April depending on the Buddhist calendar which relies on the Lunar calendar. This day usually marks the end of the harvesting season.
Prelude The anti-Soviet movement became more active in
In 1539 Agricola returned to Turku and ended up as the rector of Turku (Cathedral) School. He did not like his job, calling his students "untamed animals". At the time Gustav Vasa had confiscated the property of the church when he was consolidating his power but also drove the Reformation. In 1544 Agricola received an order from the crown to send several talented young men to Stockholm's taxing offices. For some reason, Agricola did not obey until the order was sent again the next year, with a more menacing tone. This episode probably affected their relations negatively. In 1546 Agricola lost his home and school in the Fire of Turku. On 22 February 1548 Gustav Vasa ordered Agricola to retire from his position as a rector. At this time he was already married, but history knows his wife only by her name: Pirjo Olavintytär (Bridget, "daughter of Olavi"; Birgitta Olafsdotter, Brigida Olaui). His only son, Christian Agricola (Christianus Michaelis Agricola), was born 11 December 1550, and became the bishop of Tallinn in 1584. When an old bishop died in 1554, Gustav Vasa had Agricola consecrated as the ordinarius of Turku parish – for all practical purposes Bishop of Turku and by extension the first Lutheran bishop for all Finland. He was not particularly virulent in reform, although he did remove the Canon of the Mass. In 1557 he joined the delegation that was going to Russia and was in Moscow from 21 February to 24 March negotiating a peace treaty, the Treaty of Novgorod (1557). On 9 April he fell ill and died in the Uusikirkko (now Polyane) village, part of the Kyrönniemi parish on the Karelian Isthmus.This day is also Elias Lönnrot's birthday and it is celebrated in Finland as the day of the Finnish language. He was buried inside Viipuri's church, but the exact location of the grave is not known. He is commemorated as a bishop by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on 10 April.
Yuri`s Night Worldwide - Apr 12
History The history of Cambodia has a very exciting
culture and tradition that dates back from the ancient times. And the commemoration of the Cambodian New year is one of the most celebrated festivities. The Khmer (Cambodian language) New Year is being observed, usually in the middle of April right after the farmers gathered their harvests. Apart from the purpose of merry making during this celebration, the New Year symbolizes a new start for the people by renewing their lives and leaving back the bad habits from the past year. The people hope for a better year and ask for blessings and prosperity to their God Buddha.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES
The Cambodian New Year lasts for three days and each day has a significant tradition that the people religiously follow. The first day is known as the Maha Songkran. People welcome the first day of the year by buying new clothes and dressing up with using the finest and colorful linen. It is also believed that the angels come down from heaven and give blessings to all of God’s creations so the people offer flower bouquets and garlands to the Lord Buddha. They give other material presents like candles, incense, aromatic water and food especially fruits which they also offer to the priests and monks in the temples. The second day after the New Year is the Wanabat. This day is centered to the spirit of charity and gift giving. The Cambodian family usually holds reunions and get-together with their relatives. They, too give alms and food to the poor and less fortunate. The third day, which is the last day of the Cambodian New Year, is the Tngay Leang Saka which involves the cleansing and decorating of their religious figures by washing them with scented water and flower petals. During the evening of the last day of the New Year tradition, the Cambodians gather for the Pithi Srang Preah ceremony which involves the bathing of the Buddha statues, preachers, priests and the grown-ups. This ritual is centered to repentance and forgiveness for all the things that happened to them the previous year. Aside form the solemn customs that they observe, they also celebrate this special event with traditional games and dances.
Songkran Days (Thai New Year) THAILAND- Apr 13
The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. If they fall in the middle of the week, many Thai take off from the previous Friday until the following Monday. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then. Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from an Indian festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture.
New year traditions
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors. Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran may also go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance (Thai: น้ำอบไทย) over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from all of the city's important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually 'bathing' the images, as they pass by on ornately decorated floats. In northern Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to their neighborhood monastery in order to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then sculpted into stupa-shaped piles and decorated with colorful flags. Some people make New Year resolutions - to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning. The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles. Nowadays, the emphasis is on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival's spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists. In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival to lessen the many alcohol-related road accidents as well as injuries attributed to extreme behavior such as water being thrown in the faces of traveling motorcyclists. The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner. Songkran is also celebrated in many places with a pageant in which young women demonstrate their beauty and unique talents, as judged by the audience. The level of financial support usually determines the winner, since, to show your support you must purchase necklaces which you place on your chosen girl.
calculation Astrological Although the traditional calendar of Thailand like most of Southeast Asia utilizes a lunisolar calendar, the date of the
new year was calculated on a purely solar basis. The term Songkran comes from Sanskrit "Sankranta" and means "a move or change" - in this case the move of the sun into the Aries zodiac. Originally this happened at the vernal equinox, but, as the Thai astrology did not observe precession, the date moved from March to April. There is a similar named Indian Festival called as Sankrant or Makar Sankranti, celebrated on 14 January every year. Songkran as such has similarity to Indian festival of Holi. The traditional new year celebration in Sri Lanka also coincides with the Thai new year.
Greetings The traditional greeting is (sa-wat-di pi mai), basically "Happy New Year". Sawatdi is also used for "hello" or "good-
bye". Pi and mai means "year" and "new" respectively in Thai. Another greeting used is (suk-san wan pi mai), where suksanmeans "happy". However, most people use (suk-san wan songkran) — meaning "Happy Songkran Day" — since pi mai is more often linked with the first of January. Suksan is also used as an attribute for other days such as Valentine's Day.
In other calendars
Songkran is also celebrated in Laos (called pee mai lao), Cambodia (called Chaul Chnam Thmey, Cambodian New Year), Myanmar (called Thingyan), and by the Dai people in Yunnan, China (called Water-Splashing Festival). The same day is celebrated in South Asian calendars as well: the Assamese (called Rongali Bihu), Bengali (called Pohela Boishakh), Oriya (called Maha Visuba Sankranthi), Malayali, Punjabi,Sinhalese, and Tamil New Years fall on the same dates, based on the astrological event of the sun beginning its northward journey. And, as mention above, there is an Indian Festival called as Sankrant or Makar Sankranti in Marathi, celebrated every year on 14 January. Songkran as such is similar to the Indian festival of Holi, with a lot of splashing of water as paints, colored dusts, and fragances. The traditional new year celebration in Sri Lanka also coincides with the Thai new year. In Nepal, the official new year is celebrated on the 1st of Baisakh (Baisakh) according to astrological calendar Vikram Samwat and day often falls somewhere between 12-15 April. It occurs at the same time as that given by Bede for festivals of Eostre—and Easter weekend occasionally coincides with Songkran (most recently 1979, 1990, and 2001, but not again until 2085).
Thomas Jefferson's Birthday U.S. - Apr 13
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). An influential Founding Father, Jefferson envisioned America as a great "Empire of Liberty" that would promote republicanism. Jefferson served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), barely escaping capture by the British in 1781. Many people disliked his tenure, and he did not win office again in Virginia. From mid-1784 through late 1789 Jefferson lived outside the United States. He served in Paris initially as a commissioner to help negotiate commercial treaties. In May 1785 he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as the U.S. Minister to France. He was the first United States Secretary of State (1789–1793) under George Washington and advised him against a national bank and the Jay Treaty. He was the second Vice President (1797–1801) under John Adams. Winning on an anti-federalist platform, Jefferson took the oath of office and became President of the United States in 1801. As president he negotiated theLouisiana Purchase (1803), and sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804– 1806) to explore the vast new territory and lands further west. Jefferson sponsored embargo laws that escalated tensions with Britain and France, leading to war with Britain in 1812 shortly after he left office. He idealized the independent yeoman farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states' rights and a limited federal government. Jefferson supported the separation of church and state and was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779, 1786). Jefferson's revolutionary view on individual religious freedom and protection from government authority have generated much interest with modern scholars. He was the eponym of Jeffersonian democracy and the co-founder and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, which dominated American politics for 25 years. Born into a prominent planter family, Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves throughout his life; he held views on the racial inferiority of Africans common for this period in time. While historians long discounted accounts that Jefferson had an intimate relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, it is now widely held that he did and had six children by her.
Education:
Monument on the place of Mikael Agricola's death near Primorsk
Agricola had thought about translating the New Testament in his early years of study. At the time, however, there was no standard written form of Finnish. He started developing it. His first book, "Abckiria", which is nowadays known as the "ABC-kirja" or ABC-book, was a primer for reading and a catechism. It was first printed in 1543. The catechism was included because only a very few people could afford the whole Bible at the time. The first printing contained 16 pages. A second printing was released in 1551 with 24 pages.
Rucouskiria:
Agricola's Rucouskiria (Rukouskirja-prayer book) was printed in March 1544. At the beginning of the book, Agricola wrote about many topics concerning all-round education and the Reformation's effects in Finland. The book includes four prefaces and about 700 prayers on many topics; it even has twelve different prayers instead of the usual two or three. It is the most independent work by Agricola and contains approximately 900 pages. His sources include the works of Luther, Melanchthon, and Erasmus.
Se Wsi Testamenti (the New Testament- Uusi testamentti):
Agricola's most prominent book is Se Wsi Testamenti, the first Finnish-language translation of theNew Testament. The manuscript was completed in 1548. It contains 718 pages and many illustrations.
Three Liturgical books:
While Agricola was in Wittenberg, he translated three smaller liturgical books into Finnish. These books were printed in 1549. Käsikirja Castesta ia muista Christikunnan Menoista includes forms for christening, marriage and burial, as well as speeches for the sick, mourning and dying. It is translated from Olaus Petri's corresponding work except for the christening and marriage portions, which are from Luther. It also contains minor elements translated from Caspar Huberinus' works. Messu eli Herran echtolinen includes the form for a service. It is also based on Olaus Petri's work and a few Finnish manuscripts. In this book Agricola revealed his next mission: the translation of the Old Testament. Se meiden Herran Jesusen Christusen Pina, ylesnousemus ia tauiaisen Astumus, niste Neliest Euangelisterist coghottuon tells about Jesus Christ's suffering. It is collected from all four gospels. This book was influenced heavily by Johannes Bugenhagen, a teacher in Wittenberg. It was mainly translated from the German version, but some parts are influenced by the Swedish version and Agricola's own translation of theNew Testament.
Commemorations of Agricola:
Mikael Agricola was recently selected as the main motif for a commemorative coin, the €10 Mikael Agricola and Finnish language commemorative coin, minted in 2007. This collector coin was issued to honor Mikael Agricola's lifework as a contributor to Protestant reformation in Finland and as the father of the Finnish written language. The reverse of the coin shows a quill referencing the writer; while the obverse side contains an artistic interpretation of a human figure.
Martyr's Day TUNISIA - A p r 0 9
Martyrs’ Day is celebrated every April 9 each year to commemorate the lives of people who battled for the country’s independence against the French rule on 1956.
History Tunisia was ruled
over by the French colonies during the period of 1881 to 1956. Despite this condition, Tunisia still remained as a supreme monarch in which Tunisian ministers were still elected in the higher office. Due to the support of the French, the government of Tunisia became stable and well-established. However, during the World War I, a Destour Constitution Party was established which demanded for the creation of a new constitution that will give the Tunisians equal rights with the Europeans. And on 1934, a Neo-Destour was formed under the leadership of a Tunisian lawyer named Habib Bourguiba. This new organization presented its propaganda to the public to further increase its supporters. The French disagreed with the establishment of the NeoDestour which resulted in to conflicts between the two parties. Several rallies and political divergence sparked because of the Neo-Destour. The French felt threatened about the organization which led to the arrest and deportation of Bourguiba and his followers to France. On April 9, 1938, there was an encounter between the parties involved and at least 22 Tunisians were killed and more than a hundred were wounded. It was only on 1942 that they were released by the Nazis, followed by the German occupation that Hitler started thinking they could convince Bourguiba to participate and support the Axis powers and fight back the Allied invasion of Africa but they failed to convince him. When the Nazi’s advocacy was finally abolished, Bourguiba returned to Tunisia and continued his campaign for Tunisia’s independence and he re-established the Neo-Destour. Along with his group, they planted several attacks on the colonial facilities of the French empire. The French put Bouguiba into prison for almost two years but the Tunisians were never torn apart and still continued their battle for independence. In June of 1954, the French granted the withdrawal of their facilities in Tunisia which was an order from the administration of French president Pierre Medes. And on 1955, shortly after France granted full sovereignty to Morocco, Tunisia also achieved its independence. An on April 1955, an official proclamation was announced regarding the agreement for Tunisia’s full autonomy from the French. In memory of the civilians who died in this battle, the government of Tunisia formally declared the 9th of April as a commemoration day to the Martyrs’ of the country.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES Martyrs’ Day celebration in Tunisia involves a solemn gathering to honor and pay tribute to the heroes of the war
who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty of the country. The celebration of the holiday involves speeches and tributary speeches from government officials and the leaders from civic groups.
National Sibling Day U.S. - A p r 1 0
National Siblings Day (NSD) is celebrated on April 10 each year in the USA. It is the brainchild of Claudia A. Evart, who created it after the deaths of her brother and sister. She wanted a day for all Americans to think about the importance of the relationships they have with their brothers and sisters. She created a Siblings Day Foundation to establish this special day and has managed to get 40 state governors to declare Siblings Day in their states. More and more people are accepting NSD and it now has a “Special Mark” from the US Patent and Trademark Office. If it keeps growing in popularity, it could be up there on the holiday calendar with Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Battle of Rivas/National Heroes Day COSTA RICA - A p r 1 1
Battle of Rivas sometimes known as the Second Battle of Rivas occurred on 11 April 1856 between Costa Rican militia under General Mora and the Nicaraguan forces of William Walker. The lesser known First Battle of Rivas took place on 29 June 1855 between Walker's forces and the forces of the Chamorro government of Nicaragua.
Backgroundy At the time, a major trade route between New York City
and San Francisco ran through southern Nicaragua. Ships from New York would enter the San Juan River from the Atlanticand sail across Lake Nicaragua. People and goods would then be transported by stagecoach over a narrow strip of land near the city of Rivas, before reaching the Pacific and being shipped to San Francisco. The commercial exploitation of this route had been attained from a previous Nicaraguan administration to Wall Street tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt's Accessory Transit Company. Garrison and Morgan had wrested control of the company from Vanderbilt and then supported Walker's expedition. Vanderbilt spread rumors that the company was issuing stock illegally in order to depress its value, allowing him to regain controlling interest. In July 1856, Walker set himself up as president of Nicaragua, after conducting a farcical election. As ruler of Nicaragua, Walker then revoked the Transit Company's charter, claiming that it had violated the agreement, and granted use of the route back to Garrison and Morgan. Outraged, Vanderbilt successfully pressured the U.S. government to withdraw its recognition of Walker's regime. Walker had also scared his neighbors and American and European investors with talk of further military conquests in Central America. Vanderbilt finance and train a military coalition of these states, led by Costa Rica, and worked to prevent men and supplies from reaching Walker. He also provided defectors from Walker's army with payments and free passage back to the U.S. Realizing that his position was becoming precarious, he sought support from the Southerners in the U.S. by recasting his campaign as a fight to spread the institution of black slavery, which many American Southern businessmen saw as the basis of their agrarian economy. With this in mind, Walker revoked Nicaragua's emancipation edict of 1824. This move did increase Walker's popularity in the South and attracted the attention of Pierre Soulé, an influential New Orleans politician, who campaigned to raise support for Walker's war. Nevertheless, Walker's army, thinned by an epidemic of cholera and massive defections, was no match for the Central American coalition and Vanderbilt's agents.
National Redemption Day LIBERIA - Apr 12
In celebration of the anniversary of the coup d’état that was spearheaded by Samuel Doe in 1980, Liberia dedicated the 12th of April as the National Redemption Day. This is a special day for the Liberians as they commemorate the establishment of the Second Republic.
HISTORY
The existence of Liberia as a modern state was a product of the efforts of the negotiations initiated by the liberated black residents from the United States who were once slaves. These forces received supports from the many different branches of the United States and ruled the country for almost a century. It was only on 1847 that the country was declared as independent after several years under the hands of the colonial powers. However, when the country achieved its independence, it never managed to stand alone since it was not able to improve its economic stability by itself. Due to this condition, many parts of Liberia’s territory were handed down to the British and French colonies. The plan of the Europeans on Liberia turned out to be not a good idea for the Liberians. The Europeans wanted to re-establish the Liberians to let go and forget their origins and traditions. Due to the strong spirit of the Liberian customs and values, several underground movements were organized by concerned civilian groups to preserved and maintain their identities. Liberia was then ruled by President William Tolbert Jr. under a single-party government where there was limited civilian freedom. Moreover, the executive branch controlled the judiciary and legislative branches under the administration of Tolbert. In 1980, an opposition to the administration of the president led by Gabriel B. Matthews was established and aimed to oust the Tolbert government. Seeing it as a threat, Tolbert had Matthews arrested along with his alliances on March 1990. A few weeks after the arrest of Matthews, 28-year old Master Sergeant Samuel Doe plotted a coup and assassinated President Tolbert along with his officials. After the execution, Doe established a People’s Redemption Council which granted full executive and legislative council. Doe was officially announced as the President of Liberia on January 1986. This new constitution created by Doe took effect on 1986 and he was inaugurated as the first president of the Second Republic of Liberia.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES This memorable event in the History of Liberia is being celebrated each year with pride and honor. The people ob-
served the even with respect as they participate in ceremonial activities and parades during the holiday. The media also covers important events and activities for the whole nation to witness and be part of this yearly celebration. Some of the most common activities throughout the day are parades, rallies, speeches organized by civic groups and political organizations.
Cosmonaut's Day RUSSIA - Apr 12
Cosmonautics Day is a holiday celebrated in Russia and other countries every April 12. It celebrates the first manned space flight made on April 12, 1961 by 27-year old cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who circled the Earth for 1 hour 48 minutes aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. The holiday was established in the Soviet Union one year later, April 9, 1962. In modern Russia, it is celebrated in accordance with Article 1.1 of the Law "On the Days of Military Glory and the Commemorative Dates in Russia". Gagarins flight was an instant and surprising success for the Soviet space program. Gagarin became a national hero of the Soviet Union and eastern block and a famous figure around the world. Major newspapers around the globe published his biography and details of his flight. Moscow and other cities in the USSR held parades, the scale of which were second only to WWII Victory Parades. Gagarin was escorted in a long motorcade of high-ranking officials through the streets of Moscow to the Kremlin where, in a lavish ceremony, he was awarded the highest Soviet honour, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Until today the commemoration ceremony on Cosmonautics Day starts in the city of Korolyov, near Gagarin's statue. Participants then proceed under police escort to Red Square for a visit to Gagarin's grave in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis, and continue to Cosmonauts Alley, near the Monument to the Conquerors of Space. Finally, the festivities are concluded with a visit to the Novodevichy Cemetery.
In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school run by a Scottish Presbyterian minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studying Latin,Greek, and French; he learned to ride horses, and began to appreciate the study of nature. In 1757, when he was 14 years old, his father died. Jefferson inherited about 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land and dozens of slaves. He studied under the Reverend James Maury from 1758 to 1760 near Gordonsville, Virginia. While boarding with Maury's family, he studied history, science and the classics. At age 16, Jefferson entered the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, and for two years he studied mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy under Professor William Small, who introduced the enthusiastic Jefferson to the writings of the British Empiricists, including John Locke, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton. He also improved his French, Greek, and violin. A diligent student, Jefferson displayed an avid curiosity in all fields and graduated in 1762 with highest honors. He read law with William & Mary law professor George Wythe and was admitted to the Virginia bar five years later in 1767.
Career:
Jefferson handled many cases as a lawyer in colonial Virginia, and was very active from 1768 to 1773. Jefferson's client list included members of the Virginia's elite families, including members of his mother's family, the Randolphs. In 1768 Thomas Jefferson started the construction of Monticello, a neoclassical mansion. Since childhood, Jefferson had always wanted to build a beautiful mountaintop home within sight of Shadwell. Jefferson fell greatly in debt by spending lavishly over the years on Monticello in what was a continuing project to create a neoclassical environment, based on his study of the architect Andrea Palladio and the classical orders. Besides practicing law, Jefferson represented Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Burgesses beginning in 1769. Following the passage of the Coercive Acts by the British Parliament in 1774, he wrote a set of resolutions against the acts, which were expanded into A Summary View of the Rights of British America, his first published work. Previous criticism of the Coercive Acts had focused on legal and constitutional issues, but Jefferson offered the radical notion that the colonists had the natural right to govern themselves. Jefferson also argued that Parliament was the legislature of Great Britain only, and had no legislative authority in the colonies. The paper was intended to serve as instructions for the Virginia delegation of the First Continental Congress, but Jefferson's ideas proved to be too radical for that body.
Political career from 1775 to 1800 Drafting a declaration:
Jefferson served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress beginning in June 1775, soon after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. When Congress began considering a resolution of independence in June 1776, Jefferson was appointed to a five-man committee to prepare a declaration to accompany the resolution. The committee selected Jefferson to write the first draft probably because of his reputation as a writer. The assignment was considered routine; no one at the time thought that it was a major responsibility. Jefferson completed a draft in consultation with other committee members, drawing on his own proposed draft of the Virginia Constitution, George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and other sources. Jefferson showed his draft to the committee, which made some final revisions, and then presented it to Congress on June 28, 1776. After voting in favor of the resolution of independence on July 2, Congress turned its attention to the declaration. Over several days of debate, Congress made a few changes in wording and deleted nearly a fourth of the text, most notably a passage critical of the slave trade, changes that Jefferson resented. On July 4, 1776, the wording of the Declaration of Independence was ratified. The Declaration would eventually become Jefferson's major claim to fame, and his eloquent preamble became an enduring statement of human rights.
State legislator:
In September 1776, Jefferson returned to Virginia and was elected to the new Virginia House of Delegates. During his term in the House, Jefferson set out to reform and update Virginia's system of laws to reflect its new status as a democratic state. He drafted 126 bills in three years, including laws to abolish primogeniture, establish freedom of religion, and streamline the judicial system. In 1778, Jefferson's "Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" and subsequent efforts to reduce clerical control led to some small changes at William and Mary College. While in the state legislature Jefferson proposed a bill to eliminate capital punishment for all crimes except murder and treason. His effort to end the death penalty law was defeated.
Governor of Virginia:
Jefferson served as governor of Virginia from 1779–1781. As governor in 1780, he transferred the state capital from Williamsburg to Richmond. He continued to advocate educational reforms at the College of William and Mary, including the nation's first student-policed honor code. In 1779, at Jefferson's behest, William and Mary appointed George Wythe to be the first professor of law in an American university. The British invaded Virginia under Benedict Arnold and then by Lord Cornwallis. He and other rebel leaders in Virginia barely escaped capture by the British in June 1781. Many people disliked his tenure, and he not win office again in Virginia. However, in 1783 he was appointed to Congress by the state legislature.
Notes on the State of Virginia:
In the Fall of 1780, Gov. Thomas Jefferson was given a list of 22 questions, by Secretary of the French legation to the United States François Marbois, intended to gather pertinent information on the American colonies. Jefferson's responses to Marbois' "Queries" would become known as Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson, scientifically trained, was a member of the American Philosophical Society and had extensive knowledge of western lands from Virginia to Illinois. In a course of 5 years, Jefferson enthusiastically devoted his intellectual energy to the book, which discussed contemporary scientific knowledge, and Virginia's history, politics, and ethnography. Jefferson was aided byThomas Walker, George R. Clark, and U.S. geographer Thomas Hutchins. Jefferson has been controversial for both condemning slavery while expressing views that blacks were inferior to whites. The book was first published in France in 1785 and in England in 1787.
Member of Congress:
The Virginia state legislature appointed Jefferson to the Congress of the Confederation on 6 June 1783, his term beginning on 1 November. He was a member of the committee formed to set foreign exchange rates, and in that capacity he recommended that the American currency be based on the decimal system. Jefferson also recommended setting up the Committee of the States, to function as the executive arm of Congress when Congress was not in session. He left Congress when he was elected a minister plenipotentiary on 7 May 1784.
Minister to France:
Jefferson served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789, and did not attend the Philadelphia Convention, though he followed the proceedings by correspondence, and was supportive of it. Beginning in early September 1785, Jefferson collaborated by mail with John Adams in London to outline an anti-piracy treaty with Morocco. Their work culminated in a treaty that was ratified by Congress on 18 July 1787 and is still in force today, making it the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. He enjoyed the architecture, arts, and the salon culture of Paris. He often dined with many of the city's most prominent people, but sided with the revolutionaries in 1789 French Revolution. While in Paris, Jefferson corresponded with a number of individuals who had important roles in events leading up to the French Revolution. These included marquis de Lafayette and comte de Mirabeau, a popular pamphleteer who repeated ideals that had been the basis for the American Revolution. Jefferson brought some of his slaves to serve the household, including James Hemings for training as a French chef. After his youngest daughter died, he requested that a young woman slave accompany his daughter Polly to France. Sally Hemings was chosen to travel with Polly, and lived with the Jefferson household for about two years in Paris. It is likely Jefferson began his longterm relationship with Sally Hemings while in Paris; that is what their son Madison Hemings reported in his 1873 memoir.
Secretary of State:
As George Washington's (1790–1793) Secretary of State, Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton argued over national fiscal policy, especially the funding of the debts of the war. Jefferson later compared Hamilton and the Federalists with "Royalism", and stated the "Hamiltonians were panting after...crowns, coronets and mitres." Jefferson and James Madison founded and led the Democratic-Republican Party. He worked with Madison and his campaign manager John J. Beckley to build a nationwide network of Republican allies. The French minister said in 1793: "Senator Morris and Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton...had the greatest influence over the President's mind, and that it was only with difficulty that he [Jefferson] counterbalanced their efforts." Jefferson supported France against Britain when they fought in 1793. Jefferson believed that political success at home depended on the success of the French army in Europe. The French minister in 1793, Edmond-Charles Genêt, caused a crisis when he tried to influence public opinion in appealing to the people, something Jefferson tried to stop.
Break from office:
Jefferson retired to Monticello in late 1793 where he continued to oppose the policies of Hamilton and Washington. However, the Jay Treaty of 1794, led by Hamilton, brought peace and trade with Britain – while Madison, with strong support from Jefferson, wanted, "to strangle the former mother country" without going to war. "It became an article of faith among Republicans that 'commercial weapons' would suffice to bring Great Britain to any terms the United States chose to dictate." Even during the violence of the Reign of Terror, Jefferson refused to disavow the revolution because "To back away from France would be to undermine the cause of republicanism in America."
Election of 1796 and Vice Presidency:
As the Democratic-Republican candidate in 1796 he lost to John Adams, but had enough electoral votes to become Vice President (1797–1801). He wrote a manual of parliamentary procedure, but otherwise avoided the Senate. With the Quasi-War underway, the Federalists under John Adams started rebuilding the military, levied new taxes, and enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts. Jefferson interpreted the Alien and Sedition Acts as an effort to suppress Democratic-Republicans rather than dangerous enemy aliens, and were used to attack his party. Jefferson and Madison rallied support by anonymously writing the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which declared that the federal government had no right to exercise powers not specifically delegated to it by the states.
Election of 1800:
Working closely with Aaron Burr of New York, Jefferson rallied his party, attacking the new taxes especially, and ran for the Presidency in 1800. Before the passage of the Twelfth Amendment, a problem with the new union's electoral system arose. He tied with Burr for first place in the electoral college, leaving the House of Representatives (where the Federalists still had some power) to decide the election. Hamilton convinced his party that Jefferson would be a lesser political evil than Burr and that such scandal within the electoral process would undermine the new constitution. On February 17, 1801, after thirty-six ballots, the House elected Jefferson President and Burr Vice President. Jefferson later removed Burr from the ticket in 1804 after Burr killed Hamilton in a duel. Jefferson owed his election victory to the South's inflated number of Electors, which counted slaves under the three-fifths compromise. After his election in 1800, some called him the "Negro President", with critics like the Mercury and New-England Palladium of Boston that Jefferson had the gall to celebrate his election as a victory for democracy when he won "the temple of Liberty on the shoulders of slaves."
Presidency 1801–1809 "The two major achievements of Jefferson's presidency were the Louisiana Purchase and the abolition of the slave
trade," according to historian John Chester Miller. Jefferson obtained the repeal many federal taxes in his bid to rely more on customs revenue. He pardoned people imprisoned under the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed in John Adams' term. He repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801 and removed nearly all of Adams' "midnight judges" from office, which led to the Supreme Court deciding the important case of Marbury v. Madison. He began and won the First Barbary War(1801–1805), America's first significant overseas war, and established the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1802. In 1803 Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the United States. Immediately launched the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), which explored the new territory and opened the American West to settlement. He also signed into law a bill that officially segregated the U.S. postal system by not allowing blacks to carry mail.
Second Term:
In 1807, Jefferson ordered his former vice president Aaron Burr tried for treason, but he was acquitted. Jefferson called for a law making it illegal to import and export slaves; Congress passed it an it went into effect. Jefferson's reputation was damaged by the Embargo Act of 1807, which was ineffective. Congress repealed it at the end of his second term.
Administration, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments 1801–1809: Associate Justice • William Johnson – 1804 • Henry Brockholst Livingston – 1807 • Thomas Todd – 1807 States admitted to the Union: • Ohio – March 1, 1803
Pi Mai (Laos New Year) LAOS - Apr 13
Lao New Year called "Bpee Mai" or "Songkan" is celebrated every year from April 13th to April 15th.
History Lao New Year
is the most widely celebrated festival in Laos. The festival is also celebrated by Laotians in the United States of America,Canada, France, and Australia. When the Lao people first emigrated from southern China, Lao New Year was celebrated according to the Chinese Lunar New Year calendar. Since settling in mainland Southeast Asia, the Lao have adopted the new year's traditions of the Khmerand Mon-Burmese people, based on the calendar and traditions of India. Lao New Year takes place in April, the hottest time of the year in Laos, which is also the start of the monsoon season. Lao New Year takes place at roughly the same time as Songkran in Thailand and Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia.
Festival dates
The official festival lasts for three days from April 13th to April 15th (although celebrations can last more than a week in towns like Luang Prabang). The first day is the last day of the old year. Houses and villages are properly cleaned on the first day. Perfume, water and flowers are also prepared for the Lao New Year. The second day of the festival is the "day of no day", a day that falls in neither the old year or the new year. The last day of the festival marks the start of the new year.
Lao New Year Traditions Water:
Water is used for washing homes, Buddha images, monks, and soaking friends and passers-by. Students first respectfully pour water on their elders, then monks for blessings of long life and peace, and last of all they throw water each other. The water is perfumed with flowers or natural perfumes. Some people prefer flowers in the water to give a pleasant smell, as well as adding cologne/perfume. The idea of watering came from the legend of King Kabinlaphom, whose seven daughters kept his severed head in a cave. The daughters would visit their father's head every year and perform a ritual to bring happiness and good weather. Over the years another tradition has developed with Lao New Year: people will smear or throw cream (shaving cream or whipped cream) or white powder on each other during the celebrations.
HUNGARY Pál Schmitt announces his resignation 02 (Online Pál Apr) Schmitt has reas signed President of the Republic. He announced his resignation a prein adagenda in dress Parliament. Schmitt Mr. said he had performed his duties fully, to the best of his ability and in accordance with Hungary's Fundamental Law. But he photo: Csaba Pelsőczy added that in the current situation the accusations He continued by saying that accordof plagiarism made against him ing to the Fundamental Law the Presmeant that his person was becoming ident expresses the unity of the a source of division in the nation, and nation, saying: “To me this provision means that in the current situation, so he would resign from the post. when a personal issue of mine is dimetres. viding rather than uniting my beloved
An events centre in the shape of a Rubik’s cube may be built in Budapest (Online 05 Apr) A cultural centre in the form of a Rubik’s cube may be built in Budapest on the banks of the Danube. The Government has issued a resolution to support such a large-scale cultural project. The building would function as a museum, events venue and exhibition and centre, could be one photo: Károly Árvai of Budapest’s fans. The first Rubik’s Cube World most important cultural venues. The Rubik’s Cube (or Magic Cube), Championship took place in Budapest in 1982. More than 100 million one of the world’s most popular puzzles, was invented by Ernő Rubik in cubes have been sold, and its popularity is undiminished to this day. 1975. In the 1980s it was ‘Toy of the Year’ in several countries, and On 30 March, Viktor Orbán and the around the world clubs, societies and competitions are organised by its inventor signed a cooperation agreement for the creation of the new cen-
Animals:
Another way to make merit at this time is to set animals free. The Lao believe that even animals need to be free. The most commonly freed animals are tortoises, fish, crabs, birds, eels, and other small animals.
Flowers:
Flowers are gathered to decorate Buddha images. In the afternoons people collect fresh flowers. Senior monks take the younger monks to a garden filled with flowers, where they pick flowers and bring back to the wat to wash. People who didn't participate in the flower picking bring baskets to wash the flowers so the flowers can shine with the Buddha statues.
Beauty pageant:
There is an annual beauty pageant in Luang Prabang to crown Miss Bpee Mai Lao (Miss Lao New Year). There are many beauty pageants in Laos, but Luang Prabang - the old capital - is widely known for its Nangsoukhane pageant. There are seven contestants, each one symbolizing one of King Kabinlaphom's seven daughters.
Music and dance:
During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles including traditional Lao music, mor-lam, and lam-wong (circle dancing). During the daytime almost everybody is at the temple worshipping, hoping to have a healthier and happier life in the new year. During the evening, people of all ages go to the wat for entertainment.
Greetings:
There are several ways to wish someone a happy Lao New Year. The most common expressions are souk dee peemai, souksan van peemaior sabidee pimai, which can be translated into English as "Happy New Year".
tre, which will be devoted to talent, innovation and prodof ucts outstanding ingenuity. The most likely location will be on the Buda bank of the Danube in Budapest, near to R á k ó c z i but Bridge, representatives from professional organizations are still consulting on the final choice of site. The Government will organize an international architectural competition in 2013, and Mr. Rubik will be on the jury. Construction is planned to take place between 2014 and 2017. The preliminary concept is for a cultural centre of ten to twenty thousand square metres.
IMF/EU negotiations: Szijjártó says that we are ready to start talks at any moment (Online 05 Apr) The Prime Minister’s spokesman told a press conference in Budapest on Thursday that the Government is ready to start negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union at any moment. Péter Szijjártó said that ‘It is in our interest to start the negotiations as soon as possible,’ and he said that Hungary is absolutely committed to come to an agreement as soon as it
can. He added that Hungary’s macroeconomic data was encouraging and improving. He said that according to the most important economic indicators, Hungary is in the best-performing quartile among Member States, with government debt falling, employment increasing and a budget deficit of under three per cent. Mr Szijjártó said that at the next cabinet meeting minister without portfolio
Tamás Fellegi was expected to give an account of his negotiations in the United States. On Tuesday the Hungarian press agency MTI reported that chief negotiator Tamás Fellegi is taking part in informal talks with IMF representatives in Washington this week, and will participate in a conference there at which there will be discussions on certain important economic and domestic political questions in Hungary.
János Martonyi's visit to Skopje (Online 05 Apr) On 2-3 April, Foreign Minister János Martonyi paid an official visit to Skopje, where he conducted discussions with his partner, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, with President Gjorge Ivanov, and with Teuta Arifi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU Integration. In his negotiations in Skopje, János Martonyi affirmed that Hungary supports Macedonia's aspirations to join the EU and NATO, in which our country is ready to provide help. Mr. Martonyi and Nikola Poposki discussed the current situation of the Hungarian-Macedonian relations, the security challenges of the Western Balkans, and the state of the EU and NATO accession processes of Macedonia. The EU membership of the Western Balkan countries – including Macedonia – at the earliest date is one of the strategic aims of Hungary. The European Commission proposed the start of the accession negotiations in three
consecutive years, but this requires unanimity of the Member States, which can only be achieved if the open question of the name dispute has been settled. We do not intend to intervene in the name issue; however, we are convinced that the two parties concerned will find a solution. Both Ministers appreciated the start of the High Level Accession Dialogue with the European Commission, emphasising that it may shorten the process of accession negotiations with Macedonia. Continuing to provide help for the Western Balkan states in their European integration, Hungary assumes the role of a mentor to promote Macedonia’s EU accession process, especially in the fields of justice and home affairs. As an affirmation, the two Foreign Ministers signed a cooperation agreement. During the courtesy call paid to President Gjorge Ivanov, the parties mainly discussed the further potential of economic cooperation and the
possibility of Hungary’s more intensive participation in Macedonia’s development programmes. In the consultation with Teuta Arifi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU Integration, the Macedonian party explained that they try their best to reduce the number of fake asylum seekers, due to whom several Member States considered restoring visa requirements. In addition to the discussions, János Martonyi opened the travelling exhibition of the Wallenberg Year in the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Skopje. Special attention was paid to the event by the local Diplomatic Corps, the local Jewish community, and the Macedonian social elite. On behalf of the Macedonian Government, Deputy Prime Minister Musa Xhaferi, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, and top officials of the Cabinet of the President and the Foreign Ministry of Macedonia honoured the opening ceremony with their presence.
R e a c t ion t o t he wor ds of J obbik r e pr e s e nt a t iv e Zs olt B a r á th in t he H unga r ia n pa r lia m e nt y e s t e r da y (Online 04 Apr) As a matter of principle, and as laid out in the new Fundamental Law and Hungarian legislation, the Government of Hungary condemns in the strongest possible terms all statements directed –
either explicitly or implicitly – against any social group or minority living in Hungary. The words uttered yesterday evening in the Hungarian parliament by the Jobbik representative Zsolt Baráth
were absolutely unacceptable, and run counter to every fundamental value of Parliament and the Hungarian government.
The Government sets up the Human Rights Working Group (Online 03 Apr) The Human Rights Working Group was formed with the participation of twelve ministers of state. The Chairman is Zoltán Balog, Minister of State for Social Inclusion. The working group’s tasks are the following: to monitor the human rights’ situation in Hungary; to promote specialist communication in this field; and to engage civil society and professional organizations in consultation with constitutional bodies. It will make recommendations to the Government on the drafting and application of legislation in the interests of human rights in Hungary. A priority goal will be to monitor implementation of the recommendations made
by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) working group at its eleventh sitting in May 2011. At its first sitting, the working group decided on the formation of the Human Rights Round Table, which will enable the group to consult with civil society and professional organizations monitoring human rights in Hungary. Members of the Round Table will include the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the President of the Equal Treatment Authority, the President of the National Data Protection and Freedom of Information Authority, and delegates from constitutional and civil society organ-
izations invited by the President. Thus there will be representation of organizations representing nationalities, women, specialists in children’s rights, the elderly, those living with disabilities and the general field of individual freedom. The working group will sit at least once every quarter and will operate as an inter-ministerial body. Ministers of state in the following areas will be represented: Internal Affairs, Defence, Church and Nationality Affairs, Justice, Government Communication, Social Inclusion, Foreign Affairs, European Union Affairs, Employment, Social, Family and Youth Affairs, Health and Education.
N o F o o l i n g . . . H AW P a s s e s 7 , 0 0 0 hours on April 1st, 2012 (Online 07 Apr) ing, and smart AIR PÁPA “I defence.” BASE, Hunam especially gary – On Sunproud of the day, 1 April memHAW the 2012, bers ,” said Heavy Airlift C o l o n e l Wing (HAW) “our Boone, and the Stratesafety record is gic Airlift Capaexemplary, the (SAC) bility aircrews are p r o g r a m world-class reached a new professionals, milestone. The and the overall C-17 piloted by group is workHeavy Airlift ing with unity: Squadron 12 Nations – 1 Commander, Team – 1 MisLt Col Chrission -- 1 Vitian Langfeldt Photo: SAC 01 returns to Pápa Air Base, Hungary, after a suc- sion.” (NOR), and his cessful mission. The SAC program surpassed 7,000 flight hours The Strategic crew passed on 1 April, 2012. Airlift Capabilflight 7,000 ity is a cooperhours in Turkish Airspace at 0138 HAW team, the contributions of all ative effort of 12 nations: Bulgaria, Zulu time. This Afghanistan resupply the nations, and the support we get Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, mission reflected the significant from our partners – Hungarian De- the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, progress made by the program as it fence Forces at Pápa Air Base, the Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the included crewmembers from exactly NATO Airlift Management Agency, United States. It is stationed at Pápa half of the SAC Nations – Norway, Boeing Corporation, our fellow citi- Air Base, Hungary. the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, zens in the town of Pápa and of Since the delivery of the first aircraft course our families. We didn’t reach in July 2009, the HAW has flown over Sweden, and the United States. The Heavy Airlift Wing Commander, this milestone alone; it takes team- 7,000 flight hours, delivered more and the support of the nations’ than 21 tons of cargo and moved work Colonel Keith Boone (USAF), reflected on the advances made in leaders to make this an enduring suc- over 23,000 passengers for the SAC It truly is an outstanding exam- nations over 6 continents, including cess. such a short time, “We are growing as a program and as a unit. I am ex- ple of the benefits of strategic missions to Haiti, Afghanistan, Pakpooling and shar- istan, South Africa and Europe. partnerships…of tremely proud of the dedication of the
Viktor Orbán congratulates Robert Fico (Online 06 Apr) On Wednesday Viktor Orbán sent a letter of congratulations to Robert Fico upon his inauguration as Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic. Viktor Orbán sees it as important for
successful Central European co-operation and the development of relations between the two countries that a government has been formed in Slovakia which has a stable political basis. The Hungarian prime minister
expressed the hope that strengthened co-operation between Slovakia and Hungary will contribute to the effective handling of Europe’s economic challenges.
New exhibition in Veszprém pays tribute to Polish-Hungarian friendship (Online 06 Apr) Tibor Navracsics, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Justice, gave an address at the opening of an exhibition entitled “Executed cities – Poznań-Budapest, 1956 / Szétlőtt városok – Poznań-Budapest 1956 / Rozstrzelane miasta – Poznań-Budapest, 1956”. He said that there have been turningpoints in the histories of the Hungarian and Polish nations when it has been necessary to unhesitatingly and categorically declare the friendship which exists between the two peo-
ples. The exhibition commemorates one such turning-point, capturing a moment in Hungarian-Polish friendship. He said that “It is hard to say if this is the most important moment in the thousand-year friendship, or if it is the relative recency of 1956 which makes it especially important to us.” Mr. Navracsics said that at that time the citizens of another Communist country took great risks in helping Hungarians fleeing after the events of the 1956 revolution. The exhibition was opened by Michal Andrukonis, Counsellor at the Em-
bassy of the Republic of Poland to Hungary. He said that the commemoration was important in the context of the two countries’ shared pasts. The exhibition gives an account of the workers’ uprising in Poznań in June 1956 and the Hungarian Revolution which broke out a few months later. The events are richly illustrated through photographs. The thirty-two display panels were first exhibited in Poznań on 23 March 2011, on the Polish-Hungarian day of friendship.
Indoor smoking fined after 1 April 2012 (Online 06 Apr) On 1 January 2012, the amendment of the Act on the protection of non-smokers has entered into force, which introduced stricter requirements for smoking beginning with 2012. In the practice, this means that save for a few special cases, the regulation bans smoking in indoors, as well as in certain outdoor areas. However, a grace period has been given until 1 April 2012 for those facilities involved. Smoking is perhaps the most significant public health issue in Hungary. Today, 37.8 percent of adult males
and 23 percent of adult females smoke regularly, the number of cigarettes smoked annually per capita exceeds two thousand pieces. It is also a distressing fact that people take up smoking at an increasingly earlier age. It is the Government’s intention to reverse this trend. In Hungary, a person dies every eighteenth minute due to smoking, resulting in the loss of 70 Hungarian citizens daily and almost 30 thousand annually due to diseases related to this harmful addiction. According to international experience, these figures can be
significantly reduced through regulations restricting smoking. This means that more lives can be saved this way compared to healthcare treatments. Based on the experiences of the past three months, we can conclude that the facilities covered by the Act are familiar with, accept and support the protection of non-smokers. However, several catering facilities did not comply with the ban until the 1 April, since the authorities have only issued warnings to them, but following the 1 April, not complying with the regulation entails a fine.
Orban vows not to veer from path of public-debt cuts (Online 05 Apr) The government aims to turn Hungary into Europe's most competitive production centre, for which boosting employment is a must, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told leaders of the Hungarian European Business Council (HEBC) in Budapest on Thursday. Hungary will not deviate from the course of cutting public debt, the prime minister's spokesman Peter Szijjarto cited Orban as saying. Szijjarto told a press conference that the government and the HEBC had agreed on setting up a consultation
office for permanent coordination. Orban noted in his speech that it was clear from current economic trends that industry in southern Germany and the economies of central Europe had become bound together. He said a good sign for the aim of boosting employment was the expansion of the workforce by 50,000 people over the past year, and he pledged to create another 200,000 jobs this year as part of the public works programme. HEBC leader Laszlo Kerekes said the talks focused on what the council
considers three key areas for enhancing competitiveness: providing a predictable environment for companies, the stability of forint and Hungary's good reputation abroad. HEBC is composed of CEOs of 15 multinational companies with operations in Hungary, including ABB, Electrolux, Ericsson, MOL, Nestle, OMV and Philips. Szijjarto also underlined the government's message that it was prepared to enter into talks with the International Monetary Fund and European Union "at any time".
Solar collector tender open for another one and a half month (Online 04 Apr) The extended submission deadline for the tender entitled "Sub-programme for the establishment of solar collector systems facilitating the use of renewable energy carriers, generating residential hot water and providing booster heating" published at the beginning of October 2011 under the New Széchenyi Plan Green Investment Scheme in the amount of 2.97 billion is 15 May 2012. The extension of participation is justified by the spectacular vivacity of interest on part of tenderers in recent weeks. Eligible activities include the acquisi-
tion and installation of systems consisting of solar collector and related elements, regardless of the building technology of property. Tenders may be submitted by private persons and condominiums of 12 flats as a maximum. The tender source may cover 50 per cent of the entire value of the investment, but aid of no more than 800 thousand HUF may be granted. Work fee must not be more than 30 per cent of the cost eligible in terms of the aid. The solar collector system must integrally fit into the existing engineering system of the building, and it must be operational all over the
year. All tender information is available at the website of ÉMI Nonprofit Kft. managing the tender:http://www.emi.hu/napkollektor or at the website http://zbr.kormany.hu/. As an indirect impact, the programme creates local workplaces in the building industry, resulting in orders to domestic small entrepreneurs of the sector. The developments implemented with grant aid also contribute to the fulfilment of the international obligations undertaken by Hungary in the field of climate protection.
Orbán: We accepted responsibility for a process of renewal in 2010 (Online 03 Apr) Prime Minister Viktor Orbán attended the jubilee meeting of the Curia, formerly known as the Supreme Court, where he also spoke about the planned relocation of the institution in his ceremonial speech. According to plans, the Curia would be relocated to its original seat at Kossuth tér, opposite the Parliament Building, after 150 years. The building of the former justice palace currently accommodates the Museum of Ethnography. Once the Curia is given back its original seat, the symbolic constitutional triangle will be complete; the triangle of legislative, executive and judicial power. Viktor Orbán stated in connection with the justice reform that a firm, decisive and well-founded evaluation would take a longer time; at the same time, new financial resources have also been allocated for the changes contemplated at this point in time so that „we may free the administration of justice from often shameful circumstances”. The Prime Minister recalled, at the time of the establishment of Parliament, Members of Parliament were required to answer the question whether the country would need a
parliamentary or a presidential system. Finally, for historical reasons and out of respect for the law, while there were a number of arguments for a shift towards a presidential system, they decided that the Hungarian constitutional system should continue to function within the boundaries of parliamentarism. The Prime Minister also reminded his audience of the decision on the basis of which the prosecution would not be subjected to the Government but would continue to remain accountable to Parliament. Furthermore, they did not seek to implement the general reform of the administration of justice in such a way as „to shift the responsibility for the administration of justice towards the Government but that responsibility, too, should be left in the hands of Parliament”. The justice reform, the new Civil and Criminal Codes soon to be passed and the new system of public administration are remarkable achievements, Viktor Orbán summed up. The Prime Minister also spoke about the new rules regarding the retirement of judges. In this context, he pointed out they are aware of the injury caused by the changes, how-
ever, Parliament and the Government do not regard those changes as part of the justice reform but as part of the general retirement system. At the same time, he stressed in the case of all affected judges, the Government attempts to provide fair treatment and looks upon the work they have completed with the greatest respect. The Prime Minister repeatedly mentioned that, due to Europe’s crisis, we cannot live in the future the same way as we have done before. A new European order will evolve with new power centres; some states will rise to greater heights, while others will necessarily lose significance, the Prime Minister said. As regards Hungary, the Prime Minister pointed out, the Parliament elected in 2010 with a two-third majority accepted its responsibility for a process of renewal; whether „we use the means and methods at our disposal well or not so well”, it is for each person to decide. Viktor Orbán also argued that, in his opinion, the maintenance of the two-third rules builds an ongoing consensus necessity into the system from which the administration of justice, too, will eventually benefit.
More than 3,000 people took part in the Good State Forum (Online 03 Apr) On 30 January 2012 the Government launched the Good State Forum, which aimed to give the public the chance to contribute their comments and advice on the operation of public administration and the state.
Citizens were asked for their opinions in the following areas: family and youth policy, health, basic essentials, employment, public administration, law and order, sport, environmental protection, local authorities, climate policy, construction affairs and social
inclusion. The Forum ended at midnight on 31 March. The initiative followed in the footsteps of several similar international precedents, for example the Spending Challenge in Britain.
Parliament debates the first package of bills related to the creation of a system of administrative districts (Online 03 Apr) One of the most important pillars of the Government’s strategy to review and renew the system of local and public administration is the creation of a system of administrative districts. A modern system of such districts will contribute to a more effective and rational system of public administration. To aid in the creation of this system, a specialist study was produced which looked at historical precedents and European practices. After several months of political and professional consultation, on 30 March Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public
Administration and Justice, submitted the package of bills to Parliament. The bills will define those competences which will fall to the offices of the approximately 100 administrative districts to be formed. The system will come into force on 1 January 2013. Two units – the administrative district in the capital and the district office elsewhere – will act as organisational units of existing government offices. They will provide services which, up until now, have been partly performed by notaries and sub-regional bodies. Centres serving the public will also form part of
the administrative districts which, by the end of 2013, can be transformed into onestop service points which are customer-friendly and efficient. An important aim is that the division of tasks between local council offices and administrative districts will be clearly defined. The districts will deal with tasks which, up until now, have fallen to a number of different bodies. The consultation process in developing the plans has included local government bodies and unions, wide-ranging public consultation and discussion.
Pan American Day HONDURAS, HAITI - Apr 14
Day of the Americas or Pan American Day is celebrated in the country of Honduras every 14th of April. It is actually observed by every American nations as a symbol of the unity and strong bond of the American continent.
History
Pan American Day originated during the 1800s which was proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in the Congress of Panama. This was established because of the Monroe doctrine that aimed to create a spirit of unity between the countries in the American continent at the same time not forgetting about their European origin. There were several actions and proposals that were escalated for the confederation of the Inter-American connection. It was only on 1889 that the American customs union was formally proposed and happened during the first International Conference of American States in Washington DC. Finally on April 14, 1890, the International Bureau of American Republics was established which later on was called the Pan American Union and sooner became known as the Organization of American States or OAS. On May 7, 1930, the official date of the celebration of the Pan American Day was proposed at a resolution adopted by the Governing Board of the Pan American Union. And on 1931, April 14 as the official celebration day of the Pan American Day was officially passed under the administration of President Herbert Hoover.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES During this special holiday, the people of Honduras ac-
tively participate in the commemoration rites. Most offices display flag of the different nations that are part of the Pan American Union. In most schools and universities, the Day of the Americas is always a big celebration every year. Some activities include a parade or a presentation by the orchestra and some even hold pageants or play that reenacts this particular day in the history. Travel companies and the tourism department also organize exhibits and public displays that feature the many different articles and artifacts including replicas of the publication of the Organization of American States.
Sand:
Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. There are two ways to make the sand stupas. One way is to go to the beach, and the other way is to bring sand to the wat, or pagoda. Sand stupas are decorated with flags, flowers, white lines, and splashed with perfumed water. Sand stupas symbolize the mountain, Phoukao Kailat, where King Kabinlaphom's head was kept by his seven daughters.
nation, I feel to obliged bring my term of service to an end, and to resign from the post of President.” Schmitt Pál concluded by saying, “I ask God’s for on blessing Hungary and on your work here.” Parliament accepted PresiPal dent Schmitt's reson ignation Monday afternoon. Fidesz fraction leader János Lázár has announced earlier today a debate with the participation of each parliamentary group for tonight to discuss the nomination procedure of a new president.
Orange Days is a drama series that aired in Japan on TBS in 2004.
History Yuuki Kai (Tsumabuki) is a
senior at a university studying social welfare psychology and trying to find a job. One day, he encounters a girl, Hagio Sae (Shibasaki), playing the violin, and becomes intrigued. He eventually discovers that she has lost her hearing, and can now only communicate using Japanese Sign Language. Before they reveal what they think about each other, Sae and Kai must overcome a lot of barriers. They both become stronger along the way, finding their goals.
Orange Day JAPAN - Apr 14